we walked through rock creek park
to the vietnam veterans memorial –
that awesome awful wall –
and i couldn’t help it …
tears ran down my cheeks

all those thousands of names
in silvery optima
etched into polished black granite

all those thousands of names
of innocent boys
slaughtered
before turning into men

all those thousands of names
and mine could’ve easily been
yet one more engraved name
if my draft board had its way

all those thousands
and thousands of names …
there but for the grace of god
go i